Overview
- Taliban authorities report at least 800 dead and more than 2,500 injured, while the Afghan Red Crescent cites 1,124 dead, 3,251 injured and over 8,000 homes destroyed.
- The earthquake struck near Jalalabad at 11:47 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of about 8 km, followed by aftershocks including magnitude 4.5 and 5.2.
- Kunar province suffered the heaviest losses, with hard‑hit districts including Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapadare, where mud‑brick homes collapsed.
- Blocked roads, landslides and mountainous terrain are hindering search‑and‑rescue, with helicopters evacuating the injured as villagers dig through rubble by hand.
- Aid agencies warn of strained response capacity after years of funding cuts and mass returns of Afghans from neighboring countries, and they are appealing for additional support.